Biology- Evidence of Evolution

Question 1

Charles Darwin sailed on the ———-as the ships ——–. Key observations were made in the —————–

Answer 1

1. HMS beagle
2. naturalist (observing geology and life forms in various parts of the world)
3. Galapagos Island

Question 2

BioGeography

Answer 2

study of geographic distribution of living things

Question 3

Key observations from the Galapagos

Answer 3

1. remote islands only have species that can get to the island by flying, floating or swimming. No land animals, or amphibians (frogs) but did see reptiles, birds, plants and aquatic species
2. Found many unique species (not found anywhere else)
3. species on islands were most similar to those on nearest land mass (ie- south america)

Question 4

What did Charles theorize from his observations on the Galapagos

Answer 4

He theorized that species on the islands are descendents (came from) the ancestors that lived in south america. species changed over time on islands

Question 5

Homologous Features

Answer 5

Structures with a common evolutionary origin (came from same ancestor), features have a similar structure, but may have a different use
- species with features inherited from same ancestors and feature may have evolved to suit the needs of descendents
Example: the forelimbs of humans, whales, horses, cats and bats

Question 6

Analogous Features

Answer 6

features that have a different structure, but are used for the same purpose
Example: wings in birds and insects, gliding membrane in sugar gliders and flying squirrels
**species with these features don’t sharea recent ancestor, they each evolved traits separately

Question 7

Vestigial Features

Answer 7

features that are homologous (look like) a functioning feature in another species but have evolved to be low or non functioning in another species “useless”
- Example: in humans wisdom teeth, goosebumps and body hair, tailbone, muscles for ear movement

Question 8

Competition Within Populations

Malthus:

Answer 8

wrote a paper on populations and humans suffering. He inspired Darwin.

• most human suffering is due to overpopulation (insufficient resources for rising population)
• if insufficient resources, some will die (starvation, disease and war)–“struggle for existence”